Patient Testimonials
Many people think that if they don't have chest pain, they're heart healthy - and that may not always be the case. Northwest Health - Porter's Center for Cardiovascular Medicine has helped Indiana residents regain their quality of life after a previously-undiagnosed heart condition. When it comes to caring for your heart, our heart care specialists will be there for you every step of the way.
"I thought I had the heart of an elite athlete. Why do I need a pacemaker?"
Allison E., Valparaiso
Alison E. had always been active. She played volleyball year-round throughout school. She had even been told that she had a heart like renowned swimmer Michael Phelps, because her resting heart rate was so low. So when she began experiencing chest pain in early November, she figured it was a pulled muscle. After all, she’s only 19.
But, as the day progressed and the pain increased, Alison decided to get it checked out. “I thought I was just being cautious,” she says. But soon after arriving at Porter’s ER and having an EKG, Alison learned she had third degree heart blockage.
Alison discovered that her heart wasn’t working properly. “They explained to me that the top half of my heart was talking, but the bottom half wasn’t listening. The parts weren’t working together,” she relates. Electrophysiologist Mark Dixon, D.O., explained that Alison needed a pacemaker. “I was reluctant. I thought pacemakers were for old people,” she admits.
With her mother by her side, Alison went to Northwestern Medical Center in Chicago for additional input. “We hoped that there was medication or new treatment that would be less invasive than a pacemaker. But at Northwestern they told us exactly the same thing as Dr. Dixon,” she says. “Because my heart rate was so low, I could have gone into cardiac arrest at any time.” She also learned that her recurring nightmares were a classic sign that her heart was pausing during sleep. “I’d dream that I was driving and I’d wake myself up as I veered off the road. I’d have this dream 15 or 16 times a night. When Dr. Dixon told me what that sort of dream means, I was like ‘Holy cow! My nightmares may have saved my life.’”
Alison had the pacemaker implanted days later. “Dr. Dixon made the tiniest incision. It’s only eight stitches. People can’t even see it. The only real restriction is that I need to be careful with security screening devices at the airport.”
“This experience has made me realize that we’re not all indestructible. I had never had a broken bone, never needed surgery. And I thought I had a great heart,” Alison shares. “I want people to know that they need to pay attention to their bodies and to be tested for heart problems. I might have been a statistic, but instead I’m spreading the word.”
"You read about people dying from undetected defects. That could have been me."
Ashley D., LaPorte
Ashley D. was a busy lady. She had a full-time job, and two active boys, Henry, 4 years old; and Ryder, 1. “Sure, I was tired, but I thought it was normal with my schedule. I didn’t see it as a red flag,” says Ashley, a LaPorte resident.
Still, when her employer offered heart screenings, she took advantage. “My screening EKG showed an abnormality and they recommended that I follow up with a doctor. I wasn’t too concerned.” Fortunately, Ashley took this result seriously.
Within days, she saw a cardiologist who referred her to Jay Shah, M.D., for a trans esophageal echocardiogram (TEE). “During the echocardiogram, the technician left the room and came right back with Dr. Shah. I began to think ‘Maybe there’s something to this.’” says Ashley. Dr. Shah told her that her heart had a significant congenital defect.
In fact, within three days of her initial screening, Ashley learned she had a hole in her heart, which had been there since birth. “Dr. Shah said that if he hadn’t done the tests himself, he wouldn’t believe he was looking at the heart of a healthy 30-year-old with two children. Doctors were surprised I hadn’t had a stroke,” shares Ashley. This sort of undetected heart defect is often discovered after an athlete suddenly dies on the field or when someone simply doesn’t wake up.
After consulting with specialists, Ashley learned that her only option was open-heart surgery. While the thought of such invasive surgery was terrifying, Ashley and husband Nathan were confident in Cardiothoracic Surgeon Walid Khabbaz, M.D., “The surgery went really well. The hole was nearly the size of a silver dollar, but I was lucky that there was no additional damage,” says Ashley who spent four days in the hospital. “Once I recover, I shouldn’t have any restrictions. I can already tell that I have more energy than I did before. I’m definitely healthier now than I was before surgery and each day gets better.”
“Every day I thank God for a new day. Looking back, I think about how lucky I am. I’ve played sports my whole life. You read about people dying from undetected defects. That could have been me,” Ashley reflects. “Everyone should be screened. Heart defects do not discriminate by race or gender or family history. Everyone is at risk.”
* Door-to-balloon time refers to he amount of time between a heart attack patient’s arrival at the hospital to the time the patient has blood supply restored to the affected areas of the heart. Because “time is muscle”, the delays in treating a heart attack increase the amount of cardiac muscle or long-term damage. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines recommend a door-to-balloon interval of no more than 90 minutes. Northwest Health - Porter's Center for Cardiovascular Medicine exceeds this expectation 96% of the time as reported by The Joint Commission’s Core Measures.